Cord for use in the manufacture of chairs or other articles.



I B. MORRIS. CORD FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHAIRS OR OTHER ARTICLES. 7

- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1909.

Patented May 28, 1912.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD B. Mortars, or MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

CORD FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OFCI-IAIRS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD B. ll/IORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Michigan City, in the county of Lapo-rte, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cords for Use in the Manufacture of Chairs or other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a new material for use in the manufacture of furniture, such as chairs,

where the natural reed, ratan, willow or flag is now commonly employed.

My improved material is preferably formed into a cord or strand but it may be given other shapes.

I preferably employ fibrous material, such terial on or near the surface of the material is softened and while so softened is compressed into the desired shape. In order to strengthen the cord and to render it ca pable of standing greater wear and to ornament it recesses are formed therein, such as grooves or holes or both, and these are filled or inlaid with filling material, such as a.

suitable adhesive or gum and such filling material may be colored or differently colored filling material may be used to give a variegated and ornamental effect to the article. Preferably but not necessarily the binding or adhesive material. employed for uniting the fibers and for filling the holes or grooves is of such nature that it is fiexi ble after it is dried or set to render the finished article more pliable so that it may be conveniently applied to the frame of the chair or other article. The filling material employed may be also a finishing material, such as shellac and waterproofing material may be employed when required. The cord, made of fibrous material and adhesive material, may be colored and the filling material may be differently colored. The grooves or holes formed in the cord may be inlaid in various ways either by adhesive material or plastic material or by pieces of other material. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented May 28,1912.

Application filed February 13, .1909. Serial No. 477,664.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 1s a perspective view of a cord embodylng my improvements formed with grooves to receive inlays or fillings. Fig. 2 is a simi lar view of the cord formed with holes for a similar purpose. Fig. 3is a perspective View of the cord, formed with grooves which are filled in the manner specified. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a slight modification. Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing holes formed in the cord, some of which are filled. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the cord formed with grooves which cross each other and which are filled in the manner described.

The cord A is preferably made of loose fibrous material, such as eXcelsior or other fibrous material in which the fibers are rela tively long. These fibers while in mass may be saturated with adhesive material in the manner described in my Patents No. 926,996

of July 6, 1909 and No. 928,266 of July 20,

1909. The adhesive material employed is preferably of such nature that it is flexible for renders the article flexible for a considerable time after the material has been applied to a chair or other article. After the fibrous material is saturated with adhesive material it is compressed into the desired shape and is then allowed to dry and harden. After this, the adhesive material is softened, as by steam, and while so softened the material is compressed to the desired form. In this way a strong and durable cord may be produced having a surface which is smooth and which will withstand wear.

The cord A may be formed with longitudinal grooves G as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably small holes 9 are formed in the bot tom of the grooves to assist in anchoring the adhesive material. The grooves Gr may be formed by compression .or in suitable dies during the formation of thecord or by a subsequent process.

In Fig. 2 holes or recesses G are produced at spaced intervals instead of grooves and anchoring holes 9 may be also formed. Figs. 3 and 4. indicate how longitudinal groovessuch as shown in Fig. 1 may be filled with adhesive material II and Fig. 5 shows how holes G may be filled with adhesive ma: terial I-I. Fig. 6 shows how differently disposed ooves may be formed in the cord and filed withv adhesive material H. The adhesive material thus applied serves not only to ornament the cord but it also serves to strengthen it as such adhesive material very tenacious and will stand a great deal of Wear. here the cord is made of fibrous material the adhesive material applied in the manner specified serves to prolong the life of the fibrous material. here the adhesive material applied in the grooves or holes is colored, these colors serve to give the cord a very pleasing and ornamental effect. The adhesive material may be made transparent, if desired. Where necessary, Water-proofing material may be applied at a suitable stage of the manufacture of the cord and finishing varnish or other finishing material may also be applied when necessary. The grooves or holes formed in the cord may be filled with adhesive material by passing the cords through a bath of such material one or more times. This Will result not only in filling the grooves or holes but Will also leave a coat on the surface of the cord. This can be removed in any suitable Way and the surface of the filling in the grooves or holes may be trimmed down flush With the surface of the cord in order" that a smooth covering for the surface of the material may be obtained.

The adhesive material employed to treat the fibrous material before its compression may be of the same nature as that described in my patents above mentioned, and the adhesive material employed to fill the grooves or recesses may be of a similar nature but it should be somewhat more plastic.

I claim as my invention.

1. A cord for use in the manufacture of chairs or other articles, having one or more grooves or recesses formed in it filled with ornamental strengthening material which is relatively more durable and has better Wearing properties than the body of the cord.

2. A cord for the manufacture of chairs or other articles made of fibrous material, bound together by adhesive material, having one. or more recesses or grooves formed therein filled With adhesive material which is flexible and more durable than the fibrous material.

3. A cord for use in the manufacture of chairs or other articles formed from shredded fibrous material and a binding agent, and having one or more recesses or grooves formed therein filled with ornamenting strengthening material which is flexible and relatively more durable than the fibrous material.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' HAROLD B. MORRIS. Witnesses: OLIVER T. CARVER,

HARRY L. CRUMPACKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

